Council keen to send round the bailiffs

OLDHAM Council has been criticised for its use of bailiffs to recover council tax and parking debts.

The council is at the upper end of a table of local authorities that hire debt recovery agencies to enter homes to claw back money owed.

Civil liberties pressure group Big Brother Watch used Freedom of Information to show the extent to which councils use bailiffs.

Between 2007 and 2010 local authorities passed almost six million cases to third party debt recovery agencies for the late payment of council taxes and parking fines.

Oldham was 52nd out of 320 councils with 26,516 cases overall — made up of 20,417 council tax cases (59th highest) and 6,099 parking infringements (51st highest).

Edinburgh was the highest overall with 287,315 cases with Manchester fifth at 149,635 cases. Glasgow had the most council tax cases with 228,769 and Barnet the most parking infringements at 93,680.

Big Brother Watch director Daniel Hamilton said: “Sending in bailiffs to recover debts should always be the absolute last resort.

“The fact local councils have passed more than six million cases to bailiffs for matters as trivial as the late payment of council taxes and parking fines is truly shocking.

“In many cases, bailiffs are a law unto themselves, barging their way into people’s homes, intimidating vulnerable members of the public and imposing rip-off charges.

“The Government must act now to end the bully-boy debt collection, which has taken hold in town halls across the country.”

When pursuing council tax debts, bailiffs can charge for visits and for goods seized.

For unpaid parking fines they can charge for letters too.

An investigation by the Citizens Advice Bureau revealed a 30 per cent increase in the number of people seeking help following aggressive demands from bailiffs.

Last year Oldham Council agreed a new ethical debt recovery policy that comes into effect this month.

While it is committed to recovering money owed it says this ensures it’s done effectively and appropriately. It uses a clear progression from reminders through to tougher action such as bailiff visits.

Local Government Association vice chairman Councillor David Sparks said: “An estimated £530 million in council tax is unpaid each year. There is nothing trivial about collecting money which funds the vital frontline services residents need and want.

“Calling in the bailiffs is very much a last resort. People struggling to pay bills are given as much leeway as possible.”